FraudTalk is a blog focused on the review and discussion of recent significant cases of fraud, corruption and employee misconduct - particularly major embezzlement cases in the US. Fraud Talk is published by Chris Marquet, Chairman & CEO of Marquet International Ltd., an international investigations, litigation support and due diligence firm.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Missouri Couple Sentenced For Embezzling From Utility

Stephen C. Collier, 63, and Sharron K. Collier, 62, both of Rich Hill, Missouri, and who both pleaded guilty last October to embezzling $390,367 from the Missouri Water District No. 4, where they had been employed, were each sentenced today to 30 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. The Collier's scheme lasted for about 8 years, from 1999 to July 2007. The Colliers were also ordered to pay restitution of 375,243.88 in cash and sell or forfeit their 120-acre farm property to help satisfy that restitution. According to prosecutors, the Colliers created a fictitious company called American Expressways, a fraudulent consulting vendor to the utility and made personal charges on their American Express cards, that were then paid for with checks they caused to be issued by the utility with fake invoices from American Expressways. Stephen Collier was on the board of the utility and Sharron Collier served as a clerk.

About the Author - Chris Marquet

Chris Marquet is President, Investigative Services with SunBlock Systems, an investigations, litigation support, computer forensics & cyber security firm. Chris has over 34 years of professional experience in industry with Marquet International and prior stints with Kroll Associates, Citigate Global Intelligence and Decision Strategies/Vance International.
Chris is the author of many articles and white papers, including the annual Marquet Report on Embezzlement as well as the Marquet Report on Ponzi Schemes. He has lectured extensively on subjects relating to employee misconduct; due diligence; business intelligence, internal investigations, fraud, employee integrity, workplace violence, kidnapping, terrorism, crisis management and travel security.
Chris is a Certified Board Advisor and Board Member for the Center for Strategic Business Integrity. He received an A.B. degree from Dartmouth College in 1983, with a triple major in Physics, Economics, and Philosophy.
He can be reached at cmarquet@sunblocksystems.com